The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-01-12
THE GERMAN ARMY.
Discussing the Military Bill
in the Reichstag.
PRINCE BISMARCK'S VIEWS.
The Burden of His Speech is: Elm
Time OF Peace Prepare for
War"-with France.
PRINCE BISMARCK's VIEWS
The German Military Fill.

BERLIN, January 1.-THE Reichstag.
was crowded to-day, the occasion BEING
the calling up of the government mil
itary bill in its amended form for the
Presdorf, president of the Chamber
read the committee report of the i'll
The committee said it was not author
proposals in connection with the
measure, because none of them
had obtained the sanction of the
majority of the committee General
Won Moltke opeded The debate in favor
OF the second reading, on behalf of
government. He said he did not
believe that any State should assume
the responsibility of increasing the
supply of combustible material, which
at present existed in greater or less
degree everywhere. Strong govern
ments, he commended, were the hest
guarantee of peace, while danger lay in
the ambition of party leaders and their
influence on public opinion II any State,
SAID General Won MOltke, can work
effectively to preserve peace, it IS Ger
many, who aims solely on the defensive.
For this she must be strong and pre-
pared for war. Should we against our
will, he continued, be involved in War,
we shall be able TO wage it. Ii this bill
is rejected, We shall most certainly have
war. To-day's votes in the Reichste g
on the measure will not fail to have
its effect abroad. The army alone
renders possible protection to al
other political Institutions which
must stand or fall with it
A grant tor a short time will not be &C
ceptable. The eyes of Europe are fixed
on this body. | appeal To your patriot
ism to adopt the bill and show me world
your readiness to make any sacrifice
even of your own adverse opinion. ii
the well being of fatherland is at stake.
Baron StaUffenberg followed General
Won MolUke, and while he was speaking
Prince Bismarck entered the chamber
At the conclusion of Baron Stauffen
berg'S speech, Prince Bismarck rose
He said the desire of all military au-
rhorities of the empire is only opposed
by Herr Richter, Herr WindthOr>t ana
Herr Grillenberger. 1t is difficult 10
conclude peace at Frankfort, and il is
still more difficult 10 maintain a degree
of intimacy and mutual confidence
which exists between Germany Gn0
u ASGi Ia, SNtCA do iltNEl EALNltNi d. Il
period of the German federation. We
are bound 70 maintain peace for thi>
quarter of the globe, but for this a
strong army Is required. Our relations
with all the powers are of the best, and
our good relations with Russia are be-
yond all doubt. l should have con
sidered entering upon war on account
OF Bulgaria as an act of treason against
nv country.
Prince Bismarck continued: WHAT
is Bulgaria 10 US? Ii is all the same
to US whoever governs there. The
friendship of Russia is surely MOI e
important to Us than that of Bulgaria
We have not allowed ourselves 10 be
induced by anyone to make an enemy
of Russia for the sake of Bulgaria
To maintsin good relations among
the Powers is more difficult than you
think. We cannot allow our efforts to
be nulifed by journalistic or
Parliamentary attacks. Our rela-
lions with France continue good.
To maintain them is difficult, be-
cause a long historical process
must be accomplished before the feel
ings of the past are appeased and the
differences reconciled. We have done
everything to induce the French to
forget and forgive. We have no presenl
ground to appTehend war with France.
Neither have we any reason TO fear il,
ii it should happen. There cap be no
question about our attacking France.
but we must protect ourselves against
attack. Under no ordinary circum-
stances shall we attack France, but We
shall always be compelled TO arm our
selves in Oh manner as to be equal
TO the contingency of war. This is the
supreme Object of the army bill. l have
a firm confidence in the peaceful dis
position OF the French government
and a portion of the French
people. Still, the past teaches Us
that We cannot count upon peace with
France as permanent. a government
may one day come into power at Paris
which will make war upon US. This
you must take into account. Ii we do
not prepare to-day, when war comes
we shall have TO grant everything, and
we should be laughed at. Is there in
France single paper or a single public
person who says: We renOunce our
rights to AlSace-Lorraine?' The pos
sibility of French aggression Is, there
fore, sufficient motive for the bill.
France is q strong and weli-armed
power; her army IS brave and ready 10
fight, and we must never sit idle, with
our hands in our laps, however peace
full France NAV look for the moment.
Suppose the French proved victorious,
what would We have to expect? We
should have the same French against
us from whom we suffered from 1850 to
1913. who would again suck our blood,
so that we would be paralyzed for thirty
wears. Endeavors would be made TO
permanently weaken Us. such de-
mands would be made as to give up
Hanover. 1 am only describing the
possibilities that might arise in the
event of our defeat. The peace of 1870
is mere child's play in compari-
son with what peace would be
after a war in 1890. He who wishes
to- take the responsibility for
this. let him. The Federal Government
will not take that responsibility and
thew therefore submit this bill. They
wish to have, permanently, sufficient
trained soldiers in the empire. We
have chosen the seven years term, be-
cause this was the period of the previ-
GUS compromise and our constitutional
life depends upon that compromise
The Federal Council did all they could
in consenting to the septennia1 period,
thew had only the interests and secar-
ity of the Empire-the well-belng OF the
Fatherland in view. Do you believe
H.